The Tale of how I Arrived at the Town of Towyn.

After what felt like an eternity of walking, we made about forty miles, I couldn't tell if that was impressive or not because even my heroic persona was exhausted, not to mention tired as it was getting late.

Graxia collapsed to the ground as we reached the outskirts of a forest. " My legs are numb. Please tell me we're done. "

 " For the day. I believe we have another twelve to sixteen miles left. The forest in front of us is the Aeternum Forest. It's been around since before the gods molded us from clay. " Lux explained.

 " The name kinda gave that away. The eternal forest. " I didn't actually know Latin but my heroic persona apparently did. 

 " Didn't know you spoke in the old tongue. In that case. Bonum suum in occursum condiscipulus. " He continued with a bow.

" Um. Gratias? " I wagered cautiously, for all I knew I could've just cursed at him.

 " No need to thank me. It's good to see that someone understands that just because your a hero doesn't mean you can't have a hobby. "

 " Once you guys are done it'd be nice to have something to eat. " Usagi complained, but I was all for it since I had no idea how half our conversation even went.

 " Did anybody bring anything to eat? " Everyone shook their heads to my question. " Did we really survive waking forty miles for ten hours straight, only to die of starvation! " apparently I was now the type of guy who got really hangry.

 " I'll have plenty of food. After all of I began to starve I can always just kill and eat you. " 

 " It won't come to that Makono. It's a man's job to provide! So goddamnit we're gonna do it! " Lux spoke with a fiery passion in his very soul. " Come on Tokuma! Time to be a man. " 

 " Just bring food. Preferably a lot. " Graxia groaned as she chewed on a stump.

 " And remember I can't eat meat! " Usagi shouted as Lux left for the forest with my collar clutched tightly in his hand as he drug my limp self along with him.

Throughout the whole hunt/foraging session Lux was going on about how this is what we we're made for, and how this is an important part of life as a semi hero. He even went so far as to say this was his favorite part of adventuring before he got promoted to leader. He kinda reminded me of my dad when I knew him. 

Eventually the hunt ended. I don't know if I was slowly getting brainwashed or if Lux was rubbing off on me but part of me was saddened to see it over.

Lux brought back a mighty harvest of various berries, fruits, and even a massive boar which he wrestled to the ground and killed bare handed.

I got a harvest of the ever illusive tree branches and small logs to start a fire. I almost caught a squirrel but lets just say it wasn't nearly as heroic as Lux's battle with the boar.

With the help of Makono casting a minor flame spell we were soon enjoying wild boar for dinner and drinking from some waterskins Lux filled and purified at a nearby river.

" I'm glad your all here with me. I never really explained why I'm in such a hurry and yet here you are. " Lux stated in a serious tone. " Tokuma. In your world it's common to tell horror stories around campfires at night like this right? " 

I nodded affirmatively as my mouth was too full to answer verbally.

" Then I'll tell you a horror story. Starting with my father, Lothrin the first hero. " Everyone including me turned their eyes to Lux as he explained our situation. " In the time of Lothrin heroes were a lot simpler, a demon lord would be born then Thanatos would summon an able bodied hero from another world via reincarnation, he would summon them with powers and abilities modern heroes couldn't dream of. Lothrin defeated the first demon lord with ease but the means which he did so were so horrible that he was cursed to forever be trapped in Rexia. Soon another demon lord was born and another hero was reincarnated, Lothrin taught this hero how to fight and live in this new world, he was like a son to him, one day when the young, naive, hero thought he finished his training, he left Lothrin without saying a word. The next news Lothrin got was saying that his adopted child died fighting against the demon lord. In a fit of rage he brutally pulverized the demon lord and established the Demon Slayer organization their insignia is a decapitated oni, the more drops of blood under the oni's head the higher the rank of the individual who wears them. As the name implies the organization killed dangerous demons on sight in hopes of thinning the population and eliminating any future demon lords. Their attempts were futile though and another demon lord was born, this time Lothrin slayed him before he even awakened into his power when he was still a child. The rest of the organization voted that they hunt the demons to extinction even the docile ones, when they were just starting Lothrin suddenly disappeared without warning. This is where the story diverges a little. Some people say that he left because he fell in love with a demon, others say that because he lost his first son he didn't want to lose another so he tricked a demon into falling in love with him so they could have a child that wouldn't age or die because of it's own morals. What is known however is that he had a child with a demon, that child was me. I was seen as prove of peace between demons and demon slayers and for twenty years we lived in peace. Then my mother was assassinated and the evidence pointed that it was another demons doing, immediately Lothrin initiated the hunt for the demons extinction. A demons defining characteristic is blood red her and eyes, there are other ways to tell such as thicker skin, sharper nails, pointed teeth, but crimson hair was the easiest spot and as hardly any other species have red hair it was the most reliable, that being said the demon trails were not always accurate and the organization was responsible for the deaths of more then just innocent demonkind. It wasn't until we hunted the demons to nigh extinction before I realized what I was doing was wrong. For awhile I led a couple of refugees to freedom but they were in more risk with me around. Eventually I settled down with The Swords of Fortune until I was promoted to leader due to seniority and efficiency because of my demon slaying training. For about sixty years there were no demon lords, Lothrin's plan seemed to have worked. Then Makono was found. When you first arrived with her I thought you were a demon slayer that's why I tried to kill you. "

Looking around Makono, Graxia, and Usagi were all fast asleep. I heard everything he said even though I was dozing off constantly. I had questions but I couldn't keep awake.

" You should rest with the others. You'll need it tomorrow. Fifteen miles is a long walk. "

The next day we finished the rest of the trip, it wasn't so bad, but that could've been because I actually got some real sleep.

Towyn was a small town housing no more then five-hundred people. Surrendering it were rows of spiked, fifteen feet logs sitting upright as a type of makeshift wall.

Two guards stood at the gatehouse looking as imposing as possible in cheep chain mail and rusty spears. " Halt! What business do you have in Towyn!? " One shouted in a commanding voice.

" Just passing through. " Lux answered vaguely.

" And preferably sleeping in a real bed. " Graxia groaned as she rubbed her sore back.

 " Very well you may stay. But know there are no prisons in Towyn, if you break the law we'll have no choice but to banish you. " The other guard said followed by him giving a signal to someone on the other side of the wall.

Soon with the rattling of heavy, worn, chains the gatehouse's wooden gates groaned open.

The town itself had a peaceful, joyous vibe, children were roaming around picking healthy flamboyant flowers from their beds and playing games I didn't understand. It was somewhat lacking in guards but the place was peaceful enough I couldn't imagine they really needed them. The houses were equally spaced apart yet it was obvious they were hand built and not exactly with the best quality of materials. On a hill to the northwest was the biggest building in the town most likely belonging to the town's leader. The most noticeable thing to me though was the massive cherry blossom tree in the center. All in all it was a pretty nice place I could easily stay for a couple weeks.

" We'll leave tomorrow. " Lux said breaking my fragile heart. " That being said we should see if we can earn a quick penny. Go see if anyone needs anything. " Lux then turned back to see us all in different levels of exhausted and back pain due to sleeping on a hard ground. " Ah. Once your a little less exhausted. I got stuff to do anyways. You guys should get to the big cherry tree, when I'm done I'll meet you there, then we'll see if we can't earn ourselves some guld. "

The four of us moped along to the giant tree as Lux went towards the building on the hill. The ground surrounding the tree was stone like a road and littered with beautiful pink blossoms, the tree itself was thicker then I was tall and it's roots were thicker then Volx's biceps.

Luckily the tree was surrounded in benches as well, so it didn't take long before we found some to relax on.

 " Whew. I don't know why you guys are being such drama queens. " Usagi taunted as she sprinted in place dripping sweat from every visible pour. " I could run all day. "

I barely even had the energy to protest against her blatant lie. " Usagi you should probably relax a little. "

" But...I'm...not.......tired. " She collapsed to the ground in exhaustion to nobodies surprise.

Graxia was on a separate bench then me and Makono, I didn't take it personally but I heard her mumbling when Makono's hat fell off as she fell asleep revealing her fox ears. " I'm not a perv, I'm not greedy, I'm not a perv, I'm not greedy... " She repeated as she tried to prevent herself from drooling with her mantra, she almost succeeded but the urge was too strong.

Makono was laying beside me asleep. I couldn't help but think whether or not I could get away with petting her ears. As a former otaku I felt I had to for my brothers and sisters. 

Slowly I inched my hand closer and closer to fluff heaven, I saw Graxia mouthing warnings in my direction but I ignored her.

The very tips of my fingers made contact with her fluffy ears, to say they were soft would be like saying skinny dipping in acid is bad for your health. She did not wake up so I progressed further until my hand was completely engulfing one of her ears. Makono still didn't wake up. Actually she nuzzled closer into my hand.

I gave Graxia a thumbs up with my free hand which she replied by continuing her mantra at a quickened rate.

I maneuvered my thumb in a way where it began to gently massage her inner ear.

Once I saw her slightly twitch her eyes my mind went into fight or flight and I immediately pretended I was asleep and Graxia followed suit.

With a noise I could only describe as a squeak Makono jumped back falling off the bench. I would've attempted to catch her but she fell fast and it would blow my cover. Besides she fell with grace and immediately regained her footing.

" Why you!? I'll kill you! " A baseball sized sphere of black flames appeared in her hand before she saw that I was asleep... As far as she was concerned. She growled fiercely before hesitantly sitting back down and putting her hat back on her head. " I swear if your faking, if you molested my ears on purpose. You'll be dead before you hit the ground. " 

" Huh? But I think your ears are adorable miss. " A little boy said as he reached for Makono's head futility as even though Makono was shorter then me, the boy was still shorter then her. I feared for that boy's life.

When I opened my eyes slightly I was surprised to see Makono kneeling down so the boy could reach her ears. I wasn't surprised to see Graxia drooling on the other bench however, she was trying though as I could see her lips repeating her mantra.

" Wow! They're so soft! Wait do you have a tail too? " The kid said in excitement as he pet Makono's head and ears with passion.

" If I were to get it out of my dress it would probably be considered public indecency, you see this outfit wasn't built for Homo Bestia. Tell you what. Go to the tree and count to ten then look back. " Makono replied showing a side of herself I'd never before even imagined she had.

I'm obviously slightly deranged but not enough to let a girl strip in front of me without even knowing I'm watching. " Uh. Makono, I'm pretty sure those are supposed to stay on. Unless you want me to see. " I said in a confused and somewhat smirky tone to further cement her believe that I had only just woke up.

She hastily pulled her leggings back up. " How long have you been awake!? " She replied her cheeks matching her hair in color.

" Just long enough to see your soft spots. " I answered with a grin on my face.

" You degenerate! "

" I meant with children not that! " Now I was blushing at her horrendous accusation.

The kid ran off when I woke up, probably because of my edgyness scaring him away, or the fact that I looked like a pirate reject.

Graxia stood from her bench. " Is it true? How could I have only just found out you have a tail, and how have you been hiding it so well!? Not that I would've something perverted with it, I'm a changed girl! I'm not a perv, I'm not greedy! " Even though she was still drooling her voice was ripe in determination.

Finally Usagi woke back up as Lux came by with a victorious look on his face.

 " I hope your all ready to sleep in a real bed, cause I just got a job straight from the mayor himself. "